john fusco

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THE SILENT FLUTE: ‘Marco Polo’ Creator Developing Script For Special Limited Series Inspired By Bruce Lee’s Original Work

AVCO Embassy Pictures

Richard Moore’s Christopher Lee and David Carradine starrer, Circle Of Iron (1978), is now subject to a revival from former Valiant Entertainment CEO Jason Kothari. The Hong Kong-born entrepreneur has acquired the rights to the IP’s original incarnation, The Silent Flute, from Circle Of Iron producers Paul Maslansky (Police Academy) and Sasha Maslansky, and Kurt Fehtke and Arlene Howard, and will develop a new special limited series with John Fusco (Marco Polo, The Highwaymen) penning the script.

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Amr Waked On Netflix's MARCO POLO: "Lots Of Action, Sex, Politics & Nudity!"

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, actor Amr Waked (Lucy) shared details about his character, as well as details about the diversity and scale of the cast and crew and production as a whole. “I think Netflix has made a very, very powerful production.” he says. “The value is immense, and the actors are so powerful, all of them, and each from a different part of the world. The amount of nationalities and languages spoken set was crazy – 26 nationalities and 30 languages, I think. I was very stimulated by the massiveness. The first thing that shocked me was the production value. I filmed in Kazakhstan and Malaysia. In Kazakshtan, it was in the middle of nowhere, in the mountains. We had to travel four hours from the airport to the hotel, and then two and a half hours to the location. It was very tough to film it.”

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Pre-Production Begins For Yuen's CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON 2

Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh engage a sisterly clash of swords and will in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).

Well, it’s been a little over a year since it was reported that The Weinstein Company secured the rights to late Chinese author Wang Du Lu’s Crane/Iron pentalogy which inspired director Ang Lee’s 2000 award-winning Chinese-language wuxia epic, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Needless to say, it was a hit, and fourteen years later, the film is finally getting a sequel in the form of a prequel titled Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Destiny.

This month, there’s more movement now being made for the film as pre-production has officially kicked off with plans to film most of the movie in New Zealand, courtesy of Auckland-based Iron Knight productions with the remainder of the film to be shot in China. The film is being directed by legendary action master Yuen Woo-Ping, with a script by Netflix Marco Polo series creator John Fusco, based on the fifth book of Wang’s Crane/Iron Pentalogy of novels.

The new movie will also reunite Master Yuen with actress Michelle Yeoh reportedly reprising her role from the first movie, along side the franchise’s latest addition, international action superstar Donnie Yen, all of whom previously share respective credits working on such kung fu classics like the 1993 Michael Mak film, Butterfly And Sword, and Master Yuen‘s 1994 film, Wing Chun. There’s no word yet on whether or not actress Zhang Ziyi will reprise her old role from the first film since recent news of her retirement from action roles. So, obviously, more updates lie in waiting.

The film is expected to be shot in both English and Mandarin languages and released sometime in 2015. In addition, more news is expected to come forward on Master Yuen‘s previously-announced July 2014 filming of Zu Warriors: Dawn Of Darkness, to be produced by Tsui Hark, as well as the contemporary potential trilogy kickoff, Vigilantes: The Lost Order.

H/T: NZ Herald, CriEnglish

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Netflix Series MARCO POLO Filming Is Underway

Netflix Series MARCO POLO Filming Is Underway

Offering another reason why anyone should have access to Netflix is the brand new nine-episode action adventure series, Marco Polo, which has already begun principal photography set for Venice, Kazakhstan and Malaysia before airing later this year. The news comes following its initial announcement for Starz in 2012 from creator and executive producer John Fusco, prior to its subsequent move to Netflix, in addition to news of an unrelated film currently in development over at Warner Bros.

Leading the way is Italian actor Lorenzo Richelmy (pictured left) who will play the title role, with actress Zhu Zhu, and actors Benedict Wong, Tom Wu, Remy Hii and Rick Yune rounding out the principle cast. The series is also being produced by The Weinstein Company co-chairman Harvey Weinstein and Game Of Thrones series director Dan Minahan, in addition to Pirates Of The Carribean 5 helmers Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg who are directing the first few of the nine-episode series for U.S. distribution.

Personally, I hope to acquire Netflix for myself in the not too distant future, with all of the amazing news that have come as of late with Marvel. If there is one thing that I enjoy most out of television nowadays, it is a good action series, much like what I have enjoyed with shows such as Game Of Thrones, as well as Cinemax’s Banshee and Strike Back, this year’s broadcast of The Transporter for TNT and Metal Hurlant Chronicles for Syfy, among others. And with Fusco behind this project, I think there’s a lot to look forward to for fans of mature and thrilling action and adventure who love what Marco Polo might bring to the table, especially Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, who says “John Fusco and his team have created a timeless tale of power, adventure, betrayal and lust that combines deft storytelling and cinematic ambition,”; Weinstein adds “With the glowing success of series like House Of Cards and Orange Is The New Black, it’s clear that Netflix is breaking tremendous ground in the realm of streaming original content. We could not be more excited to partner with them on this project, along with the creative tour de force of John Fusco and his talented team.”.

Resident Evil: Retribution and Outcast stunt coordinator Brett Chan is directing the action sequences with his team, who recently suffered the unfortunate loss of veteran martial artist, actor and co-coordinator Ju Kun who boarded Beijing-bound Malaysia flight MH-370 en route to the set last month before the plane reportedly disappeared over the Indian Ocean. Those reports are still developing as production on the series moves forward as an otherwise honorable tribute by Netflix and Fusco (pictured right with Kun) to a great performer to many, and a family man and beloved friend to the lives of those he touched.

Stay tuned for more info.

H/T: Deadline

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